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Post Date : March 25, 2021

47-year-old gay docked for defiling, infecting two teenagers with HIV in Adamawa

A 47-YEAR old gay, Adamu Gwaldi of Anguwan Magaji, Yola South Council, Adamawa, was yesterday arraigned before Justice Nathan Musa of High Court, Yola for allegedly defiling and infecting two boys with HIV/AIDs. It was gathered that Gwaldi allegedly took advantage of stranded two teenage jobbers to abuse them for weeks and eventually infect them with HIV/AIDS. Testifying at the court, one of the teenagers (names withheld) stated how he and his friend from Muchalla in Mubi South Council of the state in 2019 came to Yola for elusive job. According to him, it was because they had nowhere to put up that they sought Gwaldi popularly called ‘Magajin Gari’s’ help. The teenager told the court that Gwaldi took them to his house on that fateful night, offered them food and drugs, saying: “He told us the drug was for pain relief.” However, the case was different the following day as the relief stuffs turned out to be sedatives. “The only thing we noticed during the night was like somebody was on my back and having sexual intercourse with me through my anus. “When I woke up, I experienced severe pain in my anus and found blood and sperm,” he said, adding that his friend was also abused in the same fashion. He said they became apprehensive when they could not see Gwaldi when they woke up as he had gone out, leaving the door securely locked. The teenager alleged that Gwaldi kept them in the room and had sexual intercourse with them repeatedly for a week after which he took away his friend to an unknown destination. “He told him that he took my friend back to Muchalla,” he said, adding that since then he had not seen him again. The teenager told the court that he escaped from Gwaldi’s house one morning when Gwaldi was away, but to his chagrin, he heard people calling him Gwaldi’s wife. He disclosed that it was one Philip Bwasa who took him and reported the matter to police, which led to the arrest of the defendant. On his part, Bwasa, who also testified, said he actually rescued the boy when he was told about his plight, saying that at the time he was trying to rescue the boy, the defendant met him and warned him to stop interfering in his affairs. Also testifying, the Investigative Police Officer (IPO), Sergeant Ishaya Iliya, said that the matter was reported at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Police Headquarters, Yola, noting that in the course of investigation, they took the boy to Specialist Hospital, Yola, and that after he was diagnosed, it was discovered that the boy was actually defiled and he is HIV positive. After cross examination by the defence counsel, N. I. El-Yakub, counsel to the prosecution, D. I. Kulthu, Senior State Counsel II, tendered confessional statements of both the parties in evidence. Thereafter, the court adjourned the matter to April 27, 2021 for continuation of hearing.

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Post Date : March 25, 2021

Police accuse Labour of arranging own chairman’s kidnap, threaten clampdown over planned protest in Cross River

The Police Command in Cross River State has threatened to deal ruthlessly with the organized labour if they embark on its planned protest over the kidnap of their Chairman, Comrade Ben Ukpekpi. In a press statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Irene Ugbo, titled “Planned Protest By The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Cross River State,” the command said it is aware of the “unscrupulous plans”. Recall that organized labour in the state had given the government of Cross River State a 24-hour ultimatum, to provide Comrade Ukpekpi, State Labour Chairman, who was kidnapped three days ago at his residence in CrosPil Estate, Akpabuyo Local government area. Reacting to the planned protest by the organized labour, the Police Command reacted thus; “Cross River State Police Command is aware of the unscrupulous plans by unguarded individuals to ignite the State’s fragile secured environment on the pretext of an arranged kidnap of the State NLC Chairman. “The command while working earnestly to rescue the victim will not tolerate any distraction by these people who are likely to be fingered in committing this act to set the State ablaze to cover up their track. “Any gathering based on this incident will not be taken lightly and there will be a total clampdown on the organizers. All good citizens are warned to go about their lawful businesses while we do all it takes to rescue the victim unhurt please,” the Police added. The State Chairman of African Action Congress, Citizen Agba Jalingo in his reaction had this to say, “The Police in Calabar should stop threatening members of the NLC who plan to protest the kidnap of the Cross River Chairman, with arrest”. “If an investigation is telling the Police that some members of the NLC were involved in the kidnap of their Chairman, Ben Ukpepi, like the Police are alleging, the Police should go after those involved quietly and stop threatening the Labour Union with a clampdown. “We continue to maintain that protest is a right. It is not a crime. And no law says that, because some members of your union are allegedly involved in a crime, the rest of the members can no longer protest; unless the organization is proscribed and NLC is not.” “So stop the threats,” Jalingo added.

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Post Date : March 25, 2021

Ondo orders schools to refund WASSCE fees to pupils

THE Ondo State Government has ordered the principals of public secondary schools in the state to refund the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination fees collected from the pupils to them. Governor Mr Rotimi Akeredolu had last week announced the approval of the state government to pay the WAEC fees for 25,736 pupils of secondary schools across the state. A sum of N360m was earmarked for the payment. The Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Education Science and Technology, Mrs Lola Amuda, gave the directive at a meeting with executives of the state chapter of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools, and other stakeholders in the education sector, held in Akure, the state capital. Amuda said, “The directive followed the approval of funds by the Ondo State Governor for the payment of the 2020/2021 WASSCE fees for all SS3 students in public schools across the state in line with its free education policy.” In a remark, the President of the ANCOPPS in Ondo State, Mr Johnbull Mebawondu, commended the governor for being considerate, and promised that the school heads would abide by the policy of government.

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Post Date : March 25, 2021

Miyetti Allah defends herdsmen, says they are facing hostilities

One of the umbrella bodies of herdsmen in Nigeria, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, said on Wednesday that herders are facing many challenges from hostile host communities, including vigilante groups and other criminal elements who rustle cows in the country. This came as popular Islamic scholar, Ahmad Gumi, insisted on Wednesday that bandits be granted amnesty. According to him, the bandits will not let go of their arms if they are not assured of their safety and rehabilitation. Spokesman of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Saleh Hassan, who stated this, said some displaced herders in the country who were dispossessed of their cows, have ended up becoming bandits terrorising Nigerians, especially through kidnapping. Hassan said it is unfair to label every herder a criminal, adding that it is sad that herders had been singled out for victimisation. He said the herders-cum-bandits were fighting an economic fight of survival and not an ideological fight. According to him, states banning open grazing and chasing out herders from their domains are unknowingly creating crisis for themselves. States, including Benue, Ekiti and Ondo, among others, have enacted laws against open grazing to stave off constant clashes between herders and farmers. He also said some bandits were herders who became radicalised after they lost cattle as a result of the ban placed by some governors on open grazing. Alhassan said: “Let him ( Ganduje) put in place the infrastructure. Kano is a semi-arid state. What has he provided even to the herders in Kano? Kano is a heavily cultivated area during the dry season. So, what alternative have you provided for the herders? It is not about cheap idle political talks. These are real issues. “Like, I have the capacity to absorb 10,000 herders. This is what I have provided for them. This is where they will water their animals. This is where they will get their feeds. You don’t just come and say they should move to Kano. If they move to Kano, are they going to be in his government house? It is not stuffing dollars. I’m sorry to say that. “The crisis of bandits in the north-west is because of some of the activities of the governors in the past. They put pressure on the herders. They lose their cattle. They have no business. Now, they have joined bandits. They are not spirits. They have reasons why they emerged as bandits. If you destroy grazing, you are going to create another problem. They destroyed their economy. They have no cattle and they got radicalised. “Our members are peaceful herders. We have bandits; we have criminal elements in the forest. They are not necessarily herders. It is the responsibility of the security forces to identify the criminals, isolate them and deal with them according to the laws of the land. There are herders dwelling in the forest, doing their peaceful economic activities, which is cattle rearing.” (Vanguard)

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Post Date : March 25, 2021

Bandits go berserk, kill 22 in Niger, Zamfara

•Speak Up, Stop Negotiating With Criminals, PFN Charges Buhari •Abductors Of Birnin Gwari Teachers Demand N15m Ibe Pascal Arogorn Bandits have killed more than 20 vigilantes in an attack on Kotonkoro in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State. The attack, according to BBC Hausa, occurred on Monday after the vigilantes engaged a group of bandits in the area. Ibrahim Ilyasu, a member of State House of Assembly from Mariga, said: “On Monday, there was a clash between vigilantes and bandits and they pursued them to a nearby bush to fight them. Unfortunately, the vigilantes were killed and the bandits refused to allow the community to retrieve the bodies. “I can’t say the actual number of people killed because they refused to grant access to pick the bodies, but today (Wednesday), soldiers went to the forest to collect bodies of 16 persons. But that’s not all of them because there are still more people they couldn’t identify as their bodies were dismembered.” The lawmaker said four bodies had been recovered earlier. Asked how the attack happened despite the vigilantes working hand-in-hand with other security agencies, Ilyasu said: “I can’t explain it too since I was not there, but this happened. Those living in the community can testify because the bandits chased those who earlier went for the bodies back, they (bandits) almost entered Kotonkoro. “There has been respite in bandit activities in the state and we are surprised by the new wave of attacks. They’re coming through the border with Kebbi State as it also borders Zamfara. “The way out is to intensify prayers as the situation is befuddling as they don’t understand why the community is being targeted. The vigilantes are trying their best together with the soldiers stationed in the community because sometimes, they do overpower the bandits.” Daily Trust reports that Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had, a fortnight ago, promised to arm vigilante groups in Niger State, with pump-action guns, to enable them confront bandits and address other security threats. Gunmen Kill Two Staff Of Zamfara Poly Suspected armed bandits on Wednesday killed two staff of the Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Daily Trust has gathered. Not less than six armed men stormed the low-cost housing estate in Kaura Namoda. A resident of the area said the victims identified as Nazifi and Bashiru Muhammad were shot outside their house while discussing the attack not knowing that the assailants were lurking in an uncompleted building. The rector of the polytechnic, Yahaya Muhammad Bande, while reacting, described the incident as “unfortunate, barbaric and condemnable.” The victims have been buried. Speak Up, Stop Negotiating With Criminals, PFN Charges Buhari The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) on Wednesday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to act on the incessant killings in the country, saying it is disheartening. The Fellowship also asked President Buhari to stop negotiating with kidnappers, bandits, Boko Haram insurgents, killer herdsmen, for the benefit of the country. The president of the Fellowship, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, who stated this in Ibadan when he received separately, the Lagos, Ogun and Osun states chapters of the PFN led by Apostle Enjimaya Okwuonu and Apostle David Otaru, as well as Prophet Isaiah Adelowokan, respectively, urged President Buhari to urgently address Nigerians on the palpable insecurity situation of the country. Abductors Of Birnin Gwari Teachers Demand N15m The abductors of three teachers from the UBE Primary School, Rama in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have demanded N15million for their release. The gunmen had on Monday, March 15, 2021, stormed the school and abducted three teachers and three boys from primary 3, shortly after the school assembly. Teachers from the school later told our correspondent that the three boys later escaped and reunited with their families. However, our correspondent gathered from family sources of the abducted teachers that the bandits had made contact and are demanding for N15million. The Kaduna State Government had identified the abducted teachers as Umar Hassan, Rabiu Salisu and Bala Adamu. Speaking with Daily Trust, Abubakar Hussaini, whose brother, Rabiu Salisu, is one of the abducted teachers, said the bandits insisted on N5million each for their release. Gunmen Abduct 3 In Kwara, Demand N45m Ransom Heavily armed gunmen numbering about six have reportedly abducted three farm managers in Pampo Community in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State. The victims, said to be commercial poultry workers, were kidnapped around 4pm on Monday in their farms located on Eyenkorin-Afon-Ogele road in the local government area. Daily Trust learnt that the suspected abductors who were dressed in army uniform fired shots into the air when they arrived in a Hilux vehicle at one of the two farms invaded. Before kidnapping the victims, they reportedly locked the Chief Security Officer of one of the farms inside a room before they made away with the two farm workers in the other poultry farm. Narrating the incident, the owner of the second farm, Sanmi Omapariola, said the abductors have demanded N45m ransom for their three victims – two males and one female, at the rate of N15m each after establishing contact with the family, adding that the bandits spoke like Fulani “in the way they spoke in Yoruba language when we talked on phone.” The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state command, Ajayi Okasanmi (SP), who confirmed the incident, said the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Bagega, had drafted officers and men of the command to the place to secure the victim’s release. Gunmen Kidnap many in Abuja, Demand N200m Ransom Armed men have raided residents of Kiyi town in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), abducting at least four persons. One Mr Salami Olalekan, a member of staff of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCTA), is said to be among those abducted. William Salami, elder brother of the victim, said the kidnappers made a demand of N200 million, N50 million for each hostage. “The kidnappers called once, asked for N50 million ransom for one person and when

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Post Date : March 25, 2021

I thank God I went to prison – Kalu

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu, said he is grateful to God for allowing him to go to prison and come back. Mr Kalu stated this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Tuesday, adding that going to prison was a good experience for him. The statement, issued by Mr Kalu’s media aide, Peter Eze, said the senator made the remark at a campaign rally for of his younger brother, Mascot Kalu, who is the All Progressives Congress candidate for the March 27 Aba North/South Federal Constituency poll. Mr Kalu was sentenced to Kuje Correctional Centre for 12 years on December 5, 2019 for allegedly misappropriating about N7.1 billion, while serving as Abia governor between 1999 and 2007. The Supreme Court, however, on May 8, 2020 upturned his trial and conviction by Muhammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos. The apex court had said that the judge, Mr Idris, lacked the jurisdiction to try the matter, having been elevated to the Court of Appeal. Mr Kalu said some prominent Abia politicians, who were vexed by his criticism against the Abia State Government, accused him of still suffering from his prison experience. The statement quoted the senator to have said that his detractors were “little-minded to think he is ashamed of his prison experience. “My conspirators thought I would be president in 2023, so they decided to cut my journey short at all cost. “But you see, these people are not God. They think I am ashamed to have gone to prison. I am not and I don’t blame them because they don’t know my relationship with God. “Joseph went to prison, even former President Olusegun Obasanjo went to prison. “My going to prison is part of my life script and I am thankful God allowed it. They are little minds and wicked people, who have refused to do any project for their own people. Mr Kalu recently criticised the state government for “failing to address the huge infrastructure deficit” in Abia. He said the ongoing road repairs in Aba were funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission and federal government and not Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration. He further criticised the administration for failing to regularly pay workers’ salaries as and when due. The Commissioner for Information in the state, John Kalu, in a response, said the state government secured N27.4 billion World Bank facility to fund road projects in Aba. The commissioner refuted the allegation that the projects were being executed by the federal government, saying that the federal government does not build internal roads in states. (NAN)

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Post Date : March 25, 2021

Undergraduate Commits Suicide In Bayelsa

A 200-level student of History and Diplomacy at the Federal University Otuoke (FUO), Bayelsa State, Arikekpar Lucky, has committed suicide to escape being tagged as a “failure” in his academic pursuit by members his family. Daily Trust learnt that the deceased, a one-time aspirant of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Student Representative, Central Zone, took his life at the wee hours of Monday. The 27-year-old student, who hailed from Otuakeme community in Ogbia Local Government Area, hung himself with a rope tied to a ceiling fan after locking the door and windows. A source in the university community who preferred anonymity said this is not the first time the deceased had attempted to take his life, saying he had made such attempts twice last year. When contacted, a family member who pleaded anonymity, said the family would have taken the matter seriously but with the suicide note he left behind, they had to accept the situation and move on. He said: “The young man has been buried according to the tradition of the Ogbia people when such tragic incidents occur.” The police spokesman in Bayelsa State, SP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident but said that no official report had been made at the command headquarters. The Public Relations Officer of the university, Mercy Ekort, who also confirmed the incident, told journalists that the body of the student had been retrieved by the family.

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Post Date : March 25, 2021

Senate moves to amend Police Act

The Senate has introduced a bill seeking to amend the Police Act, 2020. The new bill titled ‘The Nigeria Police Act 2020 (Amendment) Bill, 2021’, was sponsored by Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru (APC, Osun). According to the sponsor, the bill seeks to enhance the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) through the removal of constraints of funds and whittling down the over-centralisation of the command structure of the police force. This is coming six months after President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the Nigeria Police Bill 2020, on September 16, which repealed the Police Act Cap. P19 Laws of the Federation, 2004. The amendment seeks to decentralize the police command structure with operational and budgetary powers vested in the zonal offices. The bill also seeks to establish a zonal security advisory council and state security advisory council to advise on the security challenges facing each zone or state respectively. Some experts told the Daily Trust that if passed into law, the bill will reduce administrative challenges in the police, in addition to inching closer to state police. The amendment seeks to insert a new Section ‘6(7)’ which provides for the structure of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as follows: (a) Force Headquarters; (b) Zonal Headquarters; (c) State Commands; (d) Training Institutes; (e) Area Commands; (f)Divisional Police Headquarters and (g) Police Stations. The new section makes provision for an organic structure for the police force so that its operations would be streamlined easily and better coordinated in line with global best practices. The new Section 6(9)(a) of the bill establishes the zonal structure of the NPF to be headed by an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, who is given the power of budgetary control over the respective zones. The provision makes for an even spread to all the geopolitical zones in the country and also obviates the unnecessary administrative bottleneck of having to report to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Abuja before key decisions are made, especially urgent decisions on funds. Section 6(9)(a) Zonal Structure of the Nigerian Police Force provides thus: (i) The zonal offices of the Nigeria Police Force shall consist as follows: Zone 1: Kano/Jigawa/Katsina; Zone 2: Lagos/Ogun; Zone 3: Adamawa/Taraba/Gombe; Zone 4: Benue/Plateau/Nasarawa; Zone 5: Edo/Delta/Bayelsa; Zone 6: Rivers/Akwa-Ibom/Cross River; Zone 7: Kaduna/Niger/FCT; Zone 8: Ekiti/Kwara/Kogi; Zone 9: Imo/Abia; Zone 10: Sokoto/Zamfara/Kebbi; Zone 11: Oyo/Osun/Ondo; Zone 12: Bauchi/Yobe/Borno and Zone 13: Anambra/Enugu/Ebonyi. (ii) Each zonal office shall be headed by an AIG of police who shall report to the IGP. (iii) The zonal offices shall have an operation and budgetary control over the police formations in the zone and shall prepare and submit to the Force Headquarters their budget. Sections 6(9) and (10) of the bill made provisions for the establishment of zonal and state security advisory councils, respectively. These advisory councils are designed to be headed by the governors, on a rotational basis for the zones, and by each state governor in the states. The bill said the advisory councils have the membership of the senators from the zones, speakers of the Houses of Assembly from the zone, all the security agencies, civil societies, traditional councils, business communities, local government chairmen, leaders of faith-based organisations, and representatives of the zones in the House of Assembly etc. According to the sponsor, “The amendments being sought to be implemented in the Police Act also align with the clamour for state police as the bill has made way for the participation of state actors in the affairs of the police force as it affects their zones and or states respectively. “These amendments, if favourably considered and implemented, would improve our security apparatus and address the security challenges facing the nation,” he said.

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Post Date : March 24, 2021

Gunmen Kidnap many in Abuja Demand N200m Ransom

Armed men have raided residents of Kiyi town in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), abducting at least four persons. One Mr Salami Olalekan, a member of staff of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCTA), is said to be among those abducted. William Salami, elder brother of the victim, said the kidnappers made a demand of N200 million, N50 million for each hostage. “The kidnappers called once, asked for N50 million ransom for one person and when they came. “When they raided the houses, they did not carry any property, except a cooking pot, probably to be cooking in the bush,” he told our correspondent on the phone. The other three victims are a motorcycle rider, a technician and a taxi driver. Daily Trust learnt that the armed men broke into Olalekan’s house through the back window. They were said to have destroyed the iron bars of the window before gaining access into his apartment. When contacted, the FCT police command spokesperson, ASP Miriam Yusuf, said, “We have launched an operation to rescue the victims and apprehend the fleeing suspects.” Mr Salami Olalekan, and three other Rural communities of the FCT have witnessed incessant kidnappings, with over 30 people abducted in the last three months.

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Post Date : March 24, 2021

Yoruba elders disown Igboho over secession bid

Kunle Olajide, secretary-general of Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), says Sunday Adeyemo, a Yoruba youth leader popularly known as Sunday Igboho, does not represent the Yoruba people in his call for secession. Igboho had recently said Yoruba is no longer part of Nigeria, calling on people of the ethnic group residing in the north to go back home. Speaking with TheCable on Wednesday, Olajide said Nigeria would be stronger if it remained as a unit. He said the Yoruba people had invested so much in Nigeria’s formation and unity, and it would be unwise for them to seek secession. Olajide said: “It is his (Igboho’s) personal desire but the present circumstances in our nation do not favour and will not make it achievable, and the fact that Yorubas have invested so much in the unity of this country and in the making of Nigeria. The tribe cannot choose to opt out without any adequate plans. “I am not aware that the Yoruba nation or citizenship has given a mandate to anybody to desire their extinction from this country. So it is not a decision that can be taken by an individual or a group of individuals. “Anybody who is familiar with the history of Nigeria will know that we have been together for over 100 years, even before the British came and we have Yorubas all over the country just as we have other Nigerians everywhere. “It is not something that you can declare by fiat. In any case, our diversity in this country and our population are our strengths. Fragmentation and dismemberment of this country cannot be in the best interest of anybody.” ‘YORUBA ARE ANGRY’ Olajide said the Yoruba people are angry over the “ethnocentric nature” of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. He, however, noted that the ethnic group remains part of the country. “Yes, all of us, especially the Yoruba nation, are angry about the ethnocentric nature of the present administration that appears grossly insensitive to the cries of maginalisation from all parts of this country. Whatever the hidden agenda it is, the agenda is bound to fail,” he said. “But we are still part of this federal government that we are so much against because of the way it is being run. The vice-president is a Yoruba man, we have ministers and governors so I don’t think anybody can ignore those Yoruba leaders and go ahead to make a pronouncement that is not in the interest of Yoruba nation and Nigeria in general.” Olajide urged Igboho “and some of those who believe in him to exercise patience”. ‘IGBOHO CAN’T SPEAK FOR YORUBA’ Igboho had also said Yoruba monarchs and elders were behind him in his quest for secession. But the YCE secretary-general said there was no platform where the traditional rulers met with Igboho. Olajide maintained that while Igboho has a right to pursue whatever objective he desires as a “full grown adult”, he cannot speak for the entire Yoruba people. “Igboho is a full grown adult, he is not a teenager so it will be wrong to believe that he does not know the country he is in,” he said. “I have spoken to him once or twice on the telephone but he is completely free to make his decision. But to make it on behalf of the entire Yoruba is what I seriously fault, it is not in order. “I read his stories in the media and saw him on the television and social media but I am not aware that any such meeting has been held.”

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